Tech Source Statewide
Author: Ann Gallaher
January 2007
by Ann Gallaher, COO, Greater Dayton IT Alliance
In 2004, the Board of Trustees crafted a strategic plan for the region that focused in four goal areas: developing IT competencies, advocating the IT agenda, providing technical thought leadership, and creating ITbased wealth. With support from volunteer committees and funding from Ohio's IT Alliance, the Tech Source program was crafted and launched to address the Board's interest in creating wealth in the Dayton area.
Though the program is in the early stages of any new business venture, it can point to many marketing opportunities, business connections, and closed business deals spurring economic growth in the region. Ohio's IT Alliance, which is funded by the Ohio Department of Development, is the umbrella organization linking five regional organizations across the state of Ohio. Looking forward into 2007, under the leadership of Jesse Jones, Ohio's IT Alliance President and CEO, and its Board of Governors steps are being taken to learn from Dayton' pilot program and to offer the Tech Source program statewide.
In January, a committee of regional executives from Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Athens will begin working with Dayton to create the model that will enable their regions to launch the program. Though many discussions and much work needs to be done, if successful -- this program will offer the first comprehensive inventory of information technology product and service providers in the state of Ohio and possibly the only one in the nation. There is the possibility that interregional business development opportunities could be facilitated through this statewide program as well as opportunities from outside the boundaries of Ohio.
